Concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet

ABSTRACT

A flat, rectangular, concealed wall-mounted locking cabinet which can be securely fastened through the outside surface of a wall and into supporting studs without requiring significant modification to the wall is described. The cabinet is completely concealed by a nesting cover that simultaneously functions as a picture frame or other artistic work. The cover and the door of the cabinet both may open in a downward manner, thereby permitting the cabinet to be made in a variety of sizes whereby handguns and long guns, such as shotguns and rifles, as well as other articles, may be accommodated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wall safes and, moreparticularly, to a concealed, locking cabinet mounted on the exteriorsurface of a wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is sometimes advantageous to have firearms available for immediateuse by the firearms owner, or other authorized users, in livingquarters, without having plainly visible, unsightly gun safes or lockedgun storage boxes for protecting the weapons from children or fromthieves. Disguised, wall-mounted locking cabinets are generally adaptedto be mounted in a recess in a wall, for example, between two studs.However, such installation requires significant modification to thewallboard to achieve sturdy mounting to the studs. Shallow cabinetsattachable to the surface of a wall, resembling a framed picture whenclosed, and suitable for storing small objects have been used for hidingmoney, jewelry and other valuables, as has the combination of a pictureframe and a repository in which one of the frame members is movable toprovide access to a secret inner storage compartment. However, in orderto preserve their concealment function such cabinets and repositoriesare too shallow to enable handguns to be stored, do not provide lockingcapability, and cannot store long guns such as rifles and shotguns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconcealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet adapted for storing articleswhich does not require significant modification to the wallboard formounting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a concealed,wall-mounted locking cabinet adapted for storing handguns which does notrequire significant modification to the wallboard for mounting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a concealed,wall-mounted locking cabinet adapted for storing rifles and shotgunswhich does not require significant modification to the wallboard formounting.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with thepurposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein, the concealed, wall-mounted cabinet, hereof, includes incombination: a flat rectangular cabinet for mounting in a verticalorientation on a mounting wall, including a back wall, a first wall anda second opposing wall, and a door rotatably attached to the first wall;means for mounting the back wall of the cabinet against a flat,unrecessed surface of the mounting wall; a cover including a front wallhaving an outside surface having a first chosen area, said cover beingrotatably attached to the first wall of the cabinet, such that when thecover is rotated to a position covering the cabinet with the front wallof the cover disposed parallel to the back wall of the cabinet, thecover conceals the cabinet; and means for reversibly holding the coversuch that the front wall of the cover is parallel to the back wall ofthe cabinet.

In another aspect of the present invention and in accordance with itsobjects and purposes, the concealed, wall-mounted cabinet, hereof,includes in combination: a flat rectangular cabinet for mounting in avertical orientation on a mounting wall, including a back wall, an upperwall and a lower wall, and a door rotatably attached to the lower wallof the cabinet such that the door opens downward; means for mounting theback wall of the cabinet against a flat, unrecessed surface of themounting wall; a cover including a front wall having an outside surfacehaving a first area, two side walls, an upper wall, and a lower wall,forming thereby a rectangular frame adapted to surround the cabinet anddisposed between the front wall and the cabinet, the rectangular framehaving a second chosen area, the rectangular cover being rotatablyattached to the lower wall of the cabinet, such that when the cover isrotated upward over the cabinet with the front wall of the coverdisposed parallel to the back wall of the cabinet, the cover concealsthe cabinet; and means for reversibly holding the cover to the upperwall of the cabinet when the front wall of the cover is parallel to theback wall of the cabinet.

In yet another aspect of the present invention and in accordance withits objects and purposes, the concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet,hereof, includes in combination: a flat rectangular container comprisinga back wall, two side walls, an upper wall, a lower wall having an outeredge, an inner edge and an exterior surface, forming a rectangular opencontainer; a rectangular door having an upper edge, and a lower edgerotatably attached in the vicinity of the lower edge thereof to theouter edge of the lower wall of the container, thereby forming acabinet, wherein the door opens from the upper edge thereof, formounting in a vertical orientation on a mounting wall; means for lockingthe door to the cabinet to the upper wall of the cabinet; means formounting the back wall of the cabinet against a flat, unrecessed surfaceof the mounting wall; a rectangular cover comprising a front wall havingan outside surface having a first area, and a frame having a second areacomprising two side walls, an upper wall, and a lower wall having anouter edge, adapted for fitting over the cabinet in a nesting mannersuch that when the front wall of the cover is rotated parallel to theback wall of the cabinet, the cabinet is hidden by the cover, therectangular cover being rotatably attached to the exterior surface inthe vicinity of the inner edge of the lower wall of the cabinet, whereinthe cover rotates downward from the cabinet from the upper wall of thecabinet; and means for reversibly holding the cover to the upper wall ofthe cabinet such that the front wall of the cover is parallel to theback wall of the cabinet.

Benefits and advantages of the present invention include, but are notlimited to, providing a concealed wall-mounted locking cabinet or safewhich does not require significant modification to the surface of a wallfor installation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the front view of an embodimentof the locking cabinet of the present invention showing the coverserving a dual function as a picture frame.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of the lockingcabinet hereof illustrating both the cover shown in FIG. 1 hereof andthe locking cabinet concealed thereby in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the front view of an embodimentof the locking cabinet of the present invention showing the cover andthe locking cabinet illustrated in FIG. 2 hereof both deployed in theiropen positions, thereby permitting access to the locking cabinet.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side view of an embodiment ofthe locking cabinet of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 hereof,illustrating the cover frame and the locking cabinet both deployed intheir open positions.

FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of a side view of an embodiment ofa locking device effective for securing the locking cabinet in a closedcondition, while FIG. 5B is a schematic representation of as side viewof the locking device shown in FIG. 5A hereof in an open condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention includes a flat, rectangular, concealedwall-mounted cabinet which can be securely fastened through the outsidesurface of a wall and into supporting studs without requiringsignificant modification to the wall. The present cabinet is completelyconcealed by a nesting cover simultaneously functioning as a pictureframe or other artistic work. The cover and the door of the cabinet bothmay open in a downward vertical manner, thereby permitting the cabinetto be constructed in a variety of sizes whereby it may accommodatehandguns and long guns, such as shotguns and rifles, as examples, andother articles. For some cabinets, the cover and the door of the cabinetmay open from the side in a horizontal manner. The cover may beconstructed from wood, metal or plastic depending on the type of art tobe carried, and be of any shape as long as the underlying cabinet can becovered. Typical frame depths may be between about 1.5″ and about 2.5″.The cabinet may be made from sturdy metal.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the Figures, similar structure will be identified usingidentical reference characters. Turning now to FIG. 1, a schematicrepresentation of the front view of an embodiment of the concealed,locking cabinet, 10, of the present invention is shown, illustratingcover, 12, being used conceal the locking cabinet, the front surface,14, of cover 12 framing a picture.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a side view of concealed lockingcabinet 10 hereof illustrating both cover 12 and locking cabinet, 16,disposed in the closed position. Back wall, 18, of cabinet 16 may besecurely fastened to vertical stud, 20, using fasteners such as woodscrews or lag bolts, 22 a and 22 b, which pass through wallboard, 24, asexamples. If front surface 14 of cover 12 is made large relative to thesize of locking cabinet 16, the protrusion of cover 12 from the wall towhich cabinet 16 is mounted may be better concealed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the front view of an embodimentof concealed locking cabinet 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 hereof, showingcover 12 and locking cabinet 16 both deployed in their open positions,thereby permitting access to the locking cabinet. Cover retainingdevices, 26 a and 26 b, are mounted to cabinet 16 and to cover 12 toreversibly hold cover frame 12 in an approximately perpendicularorientation relative to cabinet 16 when deployed in its open position.If frame 12 is sufficiently light, the lower portion thereof may besupported by the wallboard (shown as reference character 24 in FIG. 2hereof) behind locking cabinet 16.

Holes 28 a and 28 b in rear wall 18 of cabinet 16 facilitate mountingthereof onto a supporting wall. Appropriate soft materials and hangersmay be provided (not shown in the FIGURES) for positioning, retainingand protecting firearms stored in cabinet 16, while permitting thefirearms to be easily and quickly retrieved once the cabinet door isopened.

Latch 30, mounted on upper side 32 of cabinet 16 is shown havingspring-loaded ball, 34, adapted to be reversibly captured by a matchingdetent, 36, in the inside surface of the upper side, 38, of cover 12,thereby permitting frame 12 to be reversibly held in its closed positionuntil access to cabinet 16 is desired. This may be achieved by simplypulling the top portion of frame 12. Clearly, many designs for latchingapparatus 30 may be envisioned, and more than one latching apparatus maybe employed depending on the length of concealed, wall-mounted lockingcabinet 10 and/or the weight of cover 12.

Battery compartment, 40, suitable for powering lamps 42 a-42 c, whichmay be LED lamps, as an example, is shown in FIG. 3. Lamps 42 a-42 c areadapted to be activated when the door of cabinet 16 is opened. Alsoshown is keypad, 44, for operating locking mechanism, 46, one embodimentof which is described hereinbelow. A battery for operating keypad 44 maybe located in the keypad itself (not shown in FIG. 3) forstraightforward replacement thereof. Keypad 44 is concealed by frame 12when the frame is deployed in its closed position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side view of an embodiment ofconcealed locking cabinet 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 3hereof, illustrating cover frame 12 and locking cabinet 16 deployed inthe open position. Locking metal door, 48, for cabinet 16 rotates onmember, 50, which may be a pivot or a hinge, as examples, and mountednear the front of lower side, 52, of cabinet 16. Door 48 is shownresting on the rear surfaces of cover frame 12 which may be supported byretaining devices 26 a and 26 b. Member 50 may include a spring (notshown in FIG. 4) to open locking metal door 48 without the need for ahandle after it is unlocked. Other apparatus to achieve this function isenvisioned. Frame 12 is shown as rotating on member, 54, mountedoutside, 56, of cabinet 16 near the rear of lower side 52 thereof andnear the rearward portion of the lower side of frame 12. Member 54 maybe a hinge or a pivot, as examples. As stated hereinabove, someembodiments of concealed, wall-mounted cabinet 16 hereof may open fromeither side in a horizontal fashion, as may cover frame 12.

FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of a side view of an embodiment ofa locking device 46 effective for securing locking cabinet 16 in aclosed condition, while FIG. 5B is a schematic representation of a sideview of the locking device shown in FIG. 5A hereof in an open condition.Movable bar, 58, bearing hooks, 60 a-60 d, may be slidably operated bylocking device 46 under control of keypad 44 and slidably supported bycarrier, 62, on the inside surface near the front of upper wall 32 ofcabinet 16, while bar, 64, bearing loops, 66 a-66 d, adapted to beengaged by hooks 60 a-60 d, may be fixed near the upper portion of theinside of door 48 of cabinet 16 (see FIG. 4).

Locking cabinet 16 is intended to be of sufficiently sturdy constructionthat in the event that an unauthorized party detaches the cabinet fromthe wall, it will be most difficult to break into the cabinet toretrieve the firearms.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description and is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andobviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention in various embodiments and with various modifications asare suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that thescope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A concealed, wall-mounted cabinet comprising in combination: a flatrectangular cabinet for mounting in a vertical orientation on a mountingwall, comprising a back wall, a first wall and a second opposing wall,and a door rotatably attached to said first wall; means for mountingsaid back wall of said cabinet against a flat, unrecessed surface ofsaid mounting wall; a cover comprising a front wall having an outsidesurface having a first chosen area, said cover being rotatably attachedto said first wall of said cabinet, such that when said cover is rotatedto a position covering said cabinet with said front wall of said coverdisposed parallel to said back wall of said cabinet, said cover concealssaid cabinet; and means for reversibly holding said cover such that saidfront wall of said cover is parallel to said back wall of said cabinet.2. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim 1, wherein said coverfurther comprises four walls forming a rectangular frame adapted tosurround said cabinet between said front wall and said cabinet, saidrectangular frame having a second chosen area.
 3. The concealed,wall-mounted cabinet of claim 2, wherein the first chosen area is largerthan the second chosen area.
 4. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein said means for reversibly holding said cover such thatsaid front wall thereof is parallel to said back wall of said cabinetcomprises latching means for holding said cover to said second wall ofsaid cabinet.
 5. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim 1, furthercomprising retaining means for holding said cover in an approximatelyhorizontal position when said front wall of said cover is rotated to anapproximately perpendicular disposition to said back wall of saidcabinet.
 6. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim 1, wherein theoutside surface of said front wall of said cover is a solid ornamentalpanel.
 7. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim 1, wherein saidcover is adapted to hold flat artwork.
 8. The concealed, wall-mountedcabinet of claim 1, further including means for locking said door tosaid rectangular cabinet.
 9. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet ofclaim 8, wherein said locking means is adapted to lock said door to saidsecond wall of said cabinet.
 10. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein said cover opens in a downward direction.
 11. Aconcealed, wall-mounted cabinet comprising in combination: a flatrectangular cabinet for mounting in a vertical orientation on a wall,comprising a back wall, an upper wall and a lower wall determining thedepth of said cabinet, and a door rotatably attached to the lower wallof said cabinet such that said door opens downward; means for mountingthe back wall of said cabinet against a flat, unrecessed surface of amounting wall; a cover comprising a front wall having an outside surfacehaving a first area, two side walls, an upper wall, and a lower wall,forming thereby a rectangular frame adapted to surround said cabinet anddisposed between said front wall and said cabinet, said rectangularframe having a second chosen area, said rectangular cover beingrotatably attached to said lower wall of said cabinet, such that whensaid cover is rotated upward over said cabinet with said front wall ofsaid cover disposed parallel to said back wall of said cabinet, saidcover conceals said cabinet; and means for reversibly holding said coverto said upper wall of said cabinet when said front wall of said cover isparallel to said back wall of said cabinet.
 12. The concealed,wall-mounted cabinet of claim 11, wherein said means for reversiblyholding said cover to said upper wall of said cabinet such that saidfront wall thereof is parallel to said back wall of said cabinetcomprises latching means.
 13. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet ofclaim 11, further comprising retaining means for holding said cover inan approximately horizontal position when said front wall of said coveris rotated to an approximately perpendicular disposition to said backwall of said cabinet.
 14. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim11, wherein the outside surface of said front wall of said cover is asolid ornamental panel.
 15. The concealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim11, wherein said cover is adapted to hold flat artwork.
 16. Theconcealed, wall-mounted cabinet of claim 11, wherein the first chosenarea is larger than the second chosen area.
 17. The concealed,wall-mounted cabinet of claim 11, further comprising means for lockingsaid door to said rectangular cabinet.
 18. The concealed, wall-mountedcabinet of claim 17, wherein said locking means is adapted to lock saiddoor to said upper wall of said cabinet.
 19. A concealed, wall-mountedlocking cabinet comprising in combination: a flat rectangular containercomprising a back wall, two side walls, an upper wall, a lower wallhaving an outer edge, an inner edge and an exterior surface, forming arectangular open container; a rectangular door having an upper edge, anda lower edge rotatably attached in the vicinity of the lower edgethereof to the outer edge of said lower wall of said container, therebyforming a cabinet, wherein said door opens from the upper edge thereof,for mounting in a vertical orientation on a mounting wall; means forlocking said door to said cabinet to said upper wall of said cabinet;means for mounting said back wall of said cabinet against a flat,unrecessed surface of said mounting wall; a rectangular cover comprisinga front wall having an outside surface having a first area, and a framehaving a second area comprising two side walls, an upper wall, and alower wall having an outer edge, adapted for fitting over said cabinetin a nesting manner such that when said front wall of said cover isrotated parallel to said back wall of said cabinet, said cabinet ishidden by said cover, said rectangular cover being rotatably attached tothe exterior surface in the vicinity of the inner edge of said lowerwall of said cabinet, wherein said cover rotates downward from saidcabinet from said upper wall of said cabinet; and means for reversiblyholding said cover to said upper wall of said cabinet such that thefront wall of said cover is parallel to said back wall of said cabinet.20. The concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet of claim 19, whereinsaid means for reversibly holding said cover such that said front wallthereof is parallel to said back wall of said cabinet comprises latchingmeans.
 21. The concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet of claim 19,further comprising retaining means for holding said cover in anapproximately horizontal position when said front wall of said cover isrotated to an approximately perpendicular disposition to said back wallof said cabinet.
 22. The concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet ofclaim 19, wherein the outside surface of said front wall of said coveris a solid ornamental panel.
 23. The concealed, wall-mounted lockingcabinet of claim 19, wherein said front wall of said cover is adapted tohold flat artwork.
 24. The concealed, wall-mounted locking cabinet ofclaim 19, wherein the first area is larger than the second area.